Jose Mourinho's previous remarks about Pep Guardiola have resurfaced after a panel found Manchester City breached Premier League rules 114 times. City, who have consistently denied any wrongdoing, now face an anxious wait to learn their fate following the verdict.
Panel finds City breached rules over nine-year period
The panel determined that City violated the regulations between 2009 and 2018, with the club initially charged in 2023. It is understood that the East Manchester outfit, who still maintain their innocence, will challenge the ruling. Questions are now being asked about how Guardiola's legacy at the Etihad Stadium will be affected should City's appeal fail.
The Catalan secured 17 major trophies at the Etihad Stadium during his 10-year spell. The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona manager has long shared an intense rivalry with ex-Manchester United boss Mourinho.
Mourinho's withering response to Guardiola's jibe
During a 2024 press conference, Guardiola was questioned about the parallels between him celebrating his six titles and Mourinho his three, jokingly expressing hope that his tenure would not conclude in the same fashion as Mourinho's dismissal. That response and Guardiola highlighting the contrasts in their CVs evidently struck a chord with the Real Madrid boss, who delivered a withering response during a pre-match press conference while Fenerbahce manager.
He said: "Guardiola said something to me yesterday. He won six trophies and I won three, but I won fairly and cleanly. If I lost, I want to congratulate my opponent because he was better than me. I don't want to win by dealing with 150 lawsuits."
Speculation over title stripping and Man Utd bonus claim
Speculation is mounting over whether City could be stripped of titles from the period during which they have been found to have violated top-flight regulations. Such an outcome could see managers such as Mourinho handed winners' medals - and potentially due a payday from their old clubs, opening a can of worms for financial repercussions across the Premier League.
It was almost two years ago that the now 63-year-old mischievously raised the possibility that his former club, United, could be awarded the 2018 Premier League title held by City. He said: "I think we still have a chance to win that league... And then they have to pay me the bonus and give me the medal."
During Mourinho's tenure, United finished as runners-up to City in 2018, his last full season at the helm at Old Trafford. He was subsequently dismissed in December 2018 following a poor start to the 2018/19 campaign.
